With the monsoon at its peak, there has been a surge in the spread of A (H1N1) influenza cases across the country with 84 deaths and 1,155 confirmed cases reported last week. The total number of deaths since May 2009, when the outbreak was first reported, is 1,945, with confirmed cases touching the 37,395 mark.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected with 51 deaths and 8,081 laboratory-confirmed cases reported between August 9-15. This was followed by Delhi and Karnataka where seven deaths each were reported during the same time and the number of confirmed cases stood at 125 and 186 respectively.

Five deaths each were reported from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat while confirmed cases were 99 and 19 respectively. Four deaths and 20 confirmed cases were reported from Kerala. Uttar Pradesh accounted for two deaths and 25 confirmed cases while Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan accounted for one death each last week.

According to official data till date, samples from 1,58,855 people have been tested for influence of A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories throughout the country, of which 37,395 or 23.5 per cent have been detected as positive.